TA & C.V.

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Old-Salt

When mentioning on your C.V that you are a member of the TA, do you put down what trade you are in and the courses and qualifications you have gained through the army, even if they are not relevant to the job. Or do you just leave it as I am a member of the territorial army and not put down any more.

Old-Salt

You are trying to sell yourself (not in a rentboy way) But put it into civvie speak and try and draw out positive points e.g. a previous course for handling explosives: I work well and keep my cool in high pressure situations etc etc

War Hero

When mentioning on your C.V that you are a member of the TA, do you put down what trade you are in and the courses and qualifications you have gained through the army, even if they are not relevant to the job. Or do you just leave it as I am a member of the territorial army and not put down any more.

Length of service and employment, and bullet points for the key items I want them to pick up on.

Length of service I've found to be quite useful - it's a way to get around the fact that whilst my job history demonstrates I've moved around a bit, I have the ability to stick with one thing.

If your normal job is non-managerial, the TA when you have rank is quite a good way of showing that you can lead and organise teams of people.

The TA is a part of who I am - so if it's not there, you're only opening yourself up to suspicion when they realise that you're not off to Spain for two weeks, or why you need to disappear early on the odd Friday.

If they're not TA friendly (or more likely apathetic) would you want to work there?

LE

When mentioning on your C.V that you are a member of the TA, do you put down what trade you are in and the courses and qualifications you have gained through the army, even if they are not relevant to the job. Or do you just leave it as I am a member of the territorial army and not put down any more.

Length of service and employment, and bullet points for the key items I want them to pick up on.

Length of service I've found to be quite useful - it's a way to get around the fact that whilst my job history demonstrates I've moved around a bit, I have the ability to stick with one thing.

If your normal job is non-managerial, the TA when you have rank is quite a good way of showing that you can lead and organise teams of people.

The TA is a part of who I am - so if it's not there, you're only opening yourself up to suspicion when they realise that you're not off to Spain for two weeks, or why you need to disappear early on the odd Friday.

If they're not TA friendly (or more likely apathetic) would you want to work there?

Old-Salt

I can see how you would think this is a wah but it's not, the reason I ask is I have been in the same job for 14 years from school. So I have not done a c.v before, I am now looking at career change and I have put down that I am in the TA but did not know how much detail to go into.

War Hero

Since I have been doing it on and off as a full time job for a few years and its the most consistant thing I have done then yes.

Does that experience, personal qualities and qualifications from the TA help get me a job? The answer is yes, without a doubt.

The only trouble is, and I have a problem with this, is having said how much the prospective employer likes my reserve service they always end by saying "so when are you leaving?" and when I reply that I am not then that pretty much kills the interview.

Just happened again last week. A dream job, I got the interview on the back of my reserve experience, the interview went well and when the moment came as I knew it would my refusal to give up the TA ended with my not getting the job. Oh well FTRS here I come.

LE

Since I have been doing it on and off as a full time job for a few years and its the most consistant thing I have done then yes.

Does that experience, personal qualities and qualifications from the TA help get me a job? The answer is yes, without a doubt.

The only trouble is, and I have a problem with this, is having said how much the prospective employer likes my reserve service they always end by saying "so when are you leaving?" and when I reply that I am not then that pretty much kills the interview.

Just happened again last week. A dream job, I got the interview on the back of my reserve experience, the interview went well and when the moment came as I knew it would my refusal to give up the TA ended with my not getting the job. Oh well FTRS here I come.

LE

The only trouble is, and I have a problem with this, is having said how much the prospective employer likes my reserve service they always end by saying "so when are you leaving?" and when I reply that I am not then that pretty much kills the interview.
Cardinal

"However my commitments to my full time employer would always take priority and if I felt the two were incompatible then I'd put TA on hold."

I've always used words to that effect. Saying that I've only had two interviews since I left uni (pick them carefully), mentioned TA in both applications. One of the panel on the first (a Government agency no less) seemed to have quite a poor view of the military and it didn't go well. Second a private company dealing with consulting, got offered way higher than average wage for a grad. Was usefull to use as answers to 'give me an example of a time when...'. If you didn't mention it on CV but used it at interview they'd want to know why.

LE

I would avoid mentioning TA on your CV, I would also suggest trying to attribute any qualifications you've achieved as coming from your current/previous employer (not the TA as that will lower the qual).

I'm not sure the TA has given any quals I could use, except for C & C+E which I wouldn't put on my CV as its irrelevant.

LE

The book answer is that yes, you should put it on. The Army expects you to (See leaflet you should have got "It's Time to Tell").

More importantly, withholding info from an employer means that you open yourself to being sacked perfectly legally for not being honest with them. RFA 96 does not apply as your membership is not the problem, not telling them is. This applies especially if they have a box on their form which asks for details of any other employment or anything else they should know about you. And they will find out as your UESO will write to them regularly.

However, you can apply for a waiver from your unit that means your employer will not be contacted. If you expect to get one of these then you'd be safe not including TA membership on your CV. That said, I have yet to meet anyone who has needed one to hide the fact they're in the TA.

As to the details you include, that all depends on what unit you're in, what you've done and who will see the CV. Common sense should apply here.